Nnamdi Kanu Starved By DSS, IPOB Lawyer Alleges

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Tuesday, claimed that his client is starving in the custody of the Department of State Services.

According to him, none of the pronouncements made by Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja on December 2, 2021, has been obeyed by the DSS.

Ejiofor said these in a statement titled: “Update on today’s visit to our indefatigable client - Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Headquarters of the Department of State Services Abuja.”

He said, “The routine visit to our client - Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was conducted on December 6, 2021, and in his usual practice, he extended his compliments to his millions of supporters. He remains profoundly grateful for the overwhelming support and show of solidarity thus far.

“However, we observed with dismay, and indeed very unfortunate and worrisome that notwithstanding the far-reaching orders made by Her Lordship in the open Court on December 2, 2021, the detaining authority being the DSS have in their usual style, flouted and/or ignored the said court orders.

“We were informed by our client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that none of the pronouncements made by the Court on December 2 2021 has been obeyed by the DSS.

“They have unrepentantly continued to treat the orders of the Court with the greatest disdain. Our client — Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu further informed us that he had not eaten anything since yesterday (Sunday).”
   
The lawyer further claimed that his client is being punished because he complained to the court about how he is being treated in the custody of the DSS.

Ejiofor said, “Apparently, he is being punished because we dared to complain to the court about the condition under which he is being held in custody. But, very, unfortunately, this should be the height of their reckless affront to the orders of Court.

“At the time Her Lordship made these far-reaching orders in open court, I did not mince words in informing the Court that the operatives of the DSS will flout these orders, under which the court specifically told me to come back to her with these facts if her order is flouted.”

Ejiofor noted that due to the development, he would approach the court tomorrow to reveal this ‘terrifying’ development. The lawyer said that the development is ‘totally unacceptable, grossly condemnable, and cannot be tolerated.

He said, “Interestingly, we will be approaching the court tomorrow with this terrifying development, which is unacceptable, grossly condemnable, and cannot be tolerated.

“The facts must be placed in their proper perspectives: Our Client — Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted of committing any crime, he is still presumed innocent of every unfounded and frivolous allegation against him, and as such, the DSS has no power whatsoever to whittle down the enjoyment of any of his rights protected under Chapter 4 of the constitution.

“The detaining authority (DSS) is an agency established by instrumentality of the laws and should operate within the confines of the same laws establishing them, and should not be seen as a lawless entity.”

The lawyer, hence, demanded that the DSS comply with the ruling of the court immediately as further attempts to flout these orders will be faced with strict sanctions by the court.

He said, “We hereby, demand without further ado, for the immediate compliance with all the orders of the Court made on December 2, 2021, and further attempt to flout these orders must be faced with strict sanctions by the Court.

“We respectfully wish to assure our client’s teeming supporters that we cannot leave anything to chance towards ensuring that our client is sufficiently protected and his rights are upheld. The DSS must and shall certainly operate within the confines of the laws. They have no option on this.

“Be assured that we are not resting on oars whatsoever, to ensure that our Client is unconditionally released. This strategy isn’t being discussed here, but it will happen soon.”